Chapter 1: The Child of Shadows

The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the Nara clan's sacred forest. Towering trees, ancient and wise, stood like sentinels, their leaves rustling softly in the gentle breeze. Takeshi Nara, a tall man in his late twenties, moved through the underbrush with practiced ease. His black hair, tied back in a low ponytail, framed a face marked by experience and resilience. The sharp angles of his jaw were softened by a hint of stubble, but it was his deep-set eyes that drew the most attention—eyes that had seen too much yet still held a glimmer of hope.

Takeshi bore the scars of his past; each one told a story of battles fought and lost. A jagged scar ran across his left cheek, a memento from an encounter with a rogue shinobi during the First Shinobi War. It was a reminder of the chaos and violence that had once gripped the world—a stark contrast to the tranquility that enveloped him now. As he walked through the sacred woods, the peace that had settled over the land was palpable, and Takeshi couldn't help but savor it. For years, he had fought to protect his village, and now, as he awaited the birth of his first child, he felt a profound sense of contentment.

His thoughts were interrupted by the voice of one of his subordinates. "Takeshi sama, we've detected chakra in the woods!" The urgency in his tone snapped Takeshi back to reality. He turned to face his team, a group of capable shinobi who had stood by him through thick and thin.

"Enemies?" Takeshi's voice was low and steady, but the underlying tension was evident. The thought of intruders in their sacred land ignited a protective instinct within him.

"Not sure yet, but we should be cautious. The chakra signature is strange," the subordinate replied, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Stay here, Yuki," Takeshi said to his wife, placing a protective hand on her shoulder. Despite his reluctance to leave her side, he had to protect their land. With a quick, reassuring smile, he signaled his subordinates, and together they hurried into the woods, moving with quiet efficiency through the undergrowth.

As they navigated through the trees, the atmosphere shifted, the air thick with an unspoken tension. Each step felt heavy with the weight of their mission.

As they approached a small clearing, Takeshi felt a strange pull in his gut. He halted, signaling for the others to do the same. In the center of the clearing, surrounded by a ring of playful deer, lay an infant. The sight was both unexpected and surreal. The child was laughing, a sound that seemed to dance in the air, innocent and carefree, contrasting sharply with the somber mood that had descended upon the group.

"What in the world…" one of the shinobi whispered, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Takeshi stepped forward, drawn to the child. As he knelt beside the baby, he noticed the white eyes staring up at him, seemingly unafraid. It was a haunting gaze—an emptiness that tugged at his heart. He reached out, brushing his fingers against the soft skin of the infant's forehead. The baby giggled, reaching out to grasp his finger with a surprisingly strong grip.

"What do we do, Takeshi?" another subordinate asked, his voice a mix of confusion and concern. "He's just a child. He shouldn't be here alone."

Takeshi's mind raced as he took in the scene. The deer around the child seemed to be protecting him, their large, dark eyes watching intently. He felt a connection between the infant and the Deer—this child was somehow meant to be here.

"His parents must have abandoned him," one of the shinobi said grimly, a hint of cruelty in his tone. "He probably has no future. A quick death would be kinder than leaving him to fend for himself or even worse a life of suffering."

Takeshi's heart clenched at the thought. He had spent years fighting to protect the innocent, and he couldn't stand the idea of harming a defenseless child. "No," he said firmly, shaking his head. "We're not doing that. This child deserves a chance."

As he looked into the boy's eyes, he saw more than just a blind infant; he sensed potential, an uncharted future filled with possibilities. Perhaps it was the deer surrounding the child that inspired him. In Nara tradition, deer were sacred animals, symbols of protection and guidance. This felt like a sign.

"We will take him with us," Takeshi decided, his voice resolute. "We can raise him as part of our clan."

His subordinates exchanged glances, unsure but unwilling to argue against their leader's conviction. Takeshi carefully lifted the child into his arms, feeling the warmth radiating from the small body. The infant cooed and squirmed, a sound that resonated with Takeshi's heart.

As they made their way back through the forest, Takeshi couldn't shake the feeling that this was the beginning of something significant. He looked down at the child, who seemed to have a strange aura about him, a connection to the shadows that surrounded them. The thought was unsettling yet intriguing.

After returning to the small village next to the woods, Takeshi brought the infant to his home, a modest yet comfortable dwelling nestled near the edge of the sacred woods. His wife, a kind-hearted woman with gentle features and an infectious smile, looked up in surprise as he entered. "Takeshi, what's going on? Who is this?" she asked, her eyes widening in shock as she spotted the baby.

"This is Hikaru," Takeshi explained, his voice softening as he spoke the name. "I found him in the woods."

His wife's expression shifted from shock to concern. "But he's… blind?" she questioned gently, looking at the child with a mixture of empathy and uncertainty.

"Yes," Takeshi admitted, his heart heavy. "But he deserves a chance, just like any child. He'll need love and guidance. We're going to adopt him."

She knelt down to meet Hikaru's gaze, her heartwarming smile returning as she brushed her fingers against his cheek. The infant giggled, reaching out to her, and Takeshi felt a swell of hope. In that moment, he knew they had made the right decision.

Hours turned into Days, and Hikaru became a part of their family. Takeshi's wife took on the role of a nurturing mother, while Takeshi himself struggled to balance his duties as a shinobi with his new responsibilities. The world outside was peaceful, but Takeshi couldn't shake the feeling that this tranquility wouldn't last forever.

As he trained with his subordinates, he found himself frequently glancing back toward home, where Hikaru's laughter echoed in the air. The child was a source of joy, and Takeshi cherished every moment he spent with him. In the evenings, after training, he would sit by the window, watching as Hikaru played with the deer that often visited their yard.

One fateful day, as the sun dipped below the horizon, Takeshi received news that would change everything. A messenger arrived, breathless and panicked, bringing tidings of unrest in the neighboring villages. Rumors of rogue shinobi and an impending threat loomed over the land, casting a shadow over the peace they had fought so hard to achieve.

Takeshi felt a knot form in his stomach. He knew that as a protector of his village, he would be called to action once more. But as he looked over at Hikaru, who was blissfully unaware of the danger lurking beyond their home, he felt a fierce determination rising within him. He would do everything in his power to keep this child safe, even if it meant facing the horrors of war again.

As the first cries of labor echoed through their home that night, Takeshi stood by his wife's side, holding her hand tightly. The sound of a new life entering the world filled the air, bringing with it hope and a sense of renewal. And as the sun rose the next morning, illuminating the room with a warm glow, Takeshi welcomed the birth of Shikaku Nara into the world.

In that moment, he felt an overwhelming sense of purpose. With Hikaru and Shikaku both under his care, he vowed to protect them and nurture their potential, for the future was bright, yet uncertain.

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This is my first novel, had the idea for a while but didn't know how to procced with it.

if you have any ideas for arcs or abilities please feel free to suggest them